Symbolism In Flannery O Connor's Good Country People

Many people hold destructive opinions without considering their full implications. Flannery O'Connor's "Good Country People" uses characterization, symbolism, and irony to warn people with a nihilistic philosophy of life that their beliefs will inevitably lead to ruin. In this story a young atheist woman is destroyed when she is brought face-to-face with the evil personification of her worldview.

The story's tragic "heroine" is Joy Hopewell, a well-educated, thirty-two year old woman with an artificial leg. She has earned a doctorate in philosophy, and her speech is refined and precise. She has a heart condition that forces her to live at home with her mother. Despite her name, Joy is ironically described as large, hulking, bitter, and angry.
His name implies that he is going to point something out to her, and he teaches her a grotesque lesson. Like the Nietzchian passage outlined in blue, he enters the story wearing a blue suit. His blue suit is a critical element of the symbolism in the story, showing his reflection of the nihilism that Hulga espouses, and foreshadowing his atrocious actions. His valise seems to pull him into the house. His true beliefs, represented by the interior of the valise, control him. The disgusting interior contents are later revealed inside a Bible, disguised as truth. The contents are sordid sexual tools that, hidden in something holy, represent morally repulsive ideas couched in philosophy that seem logical and trustworthy.

The ironic seduction scene explains the true nature of Hulga's beliefs as they crash around her. For the first time, she realizes the evil of nihilism and the damage nihilism incurs. The central irony of the story is that Hulga claims to be a nihilist, but is not. She begins to embrace Manley, "kissing him again and again as if she were trying to draw all the breath out of him" (191). She has "never been kissed," implying that she has never had trust or intimacy in her life, which is logical for someone who will not believe in anything (190). Hulga now almost trusts his outward Christian
Manley is a liar and a fraud, but his "heart condition" is a genuine aliment (186). Throughout the story, he is often tired and out of breath. He arrives at the Hopewell house "on the point of collapse" and on his way to the covert picnic with Hulga, is twice described as "panting" when he speaks (185, 190-191). When last seen by Hulga, he is "struggling" over the hill as he flees with her leg (191). He rambles for hours about his life in front of Mrs. Hopewell after he reveals his medical condition. Much of what he tells her consists of lies (his ambition to be a missionary), but it is unlikely Manley is creating two hours of pure falsehood. It is possible that he is being truthful in some points, such as his heart. In addition, his heart condition is another parallel between Manley and Hulga, besides his clothes and nihilistic worldview. Finally, it foreshadows his doom. This may be small consolation to Hulga, but his imminent death is a reminder that judgment is coming, and his victory is temporary. Nihilism may appear to win temporarily, but meaningful philosophies of life will eventually be